Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Favorite Things 2017

As 2017 draws to a close, I've been looking back on all the good things about the past year, the lessons I've learned and the things I've discovered and figured why not pull an Oprah and put together a list of my favorite things? So here are a few things that I loved in 2017:

In beauty:
- Incoco nail appliques were an absolute game changer for me. I'm pretty physical with my hands at work, so regular manicures don't stand a chance. Incoco nail strips are super easy to apply (takes me about 10 minutes and NO dry time needed), stays on for a week +, and they're made of real nail polish, so the removal process is so easy. Literally take them off like regular nail polish. No special process required. And they come in the cutest designs. I honestly get compliments on every design I wear. Tip: Apply some Seche Vite top coat over them to make them last even longer.

-Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation in Breeze. I tried this a few months ago and I love it. It comes with a wand applicator so it can be used as a concealer as well. It's pretty full coverage so a little bit goes a long way.

- Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla. I'm pretty sure this is my Holy Grail concealer. I can tell such a difference in my makeup when I wear this under my eyes and when I don't. It just makes me.... look better. haha. I don't know how else to describe it. It's creamy, goes on smooth and blends well.

- AG Hair Cleansing Cream I love the whole AG Hair product line. The spray wax, the texture gloss, the sea salt spray-- I use all of it. But I have to say, the cleansing cream really impressed me. The directions say no conditioner is needed with this and the first time I used it I was like, okay *eye roll*. But after I rinsed it out, my hair was so soft it felt like it was a conditioner. And the shampoo doesn't lather so it doesn't feel harsh on your hair. I do use the Reconstruct keratin repair mask with it once a week and I can't say enough good things about all their products.

In fashion:
- H&M Gold hoop earrings. You would think someone with eight piercings in their ears would be a bit more adventurous in their earring choices, but the truth is--I forget. I have a decent earring collection but I just wear studs 99% of the time. These gold hoops make it really easy because they go with everything. They're simple but still complete an outfit and have been my go-to for the past 6 months. I'm wearing them here, here and here.

- Forever 21 high-waisted skinny jeans. $10 jeans are always a gamble. They could either be really cheap or the best things ever. These ones were some of the best things ever. They're super stretchy so they almost feel like leggings, but they have pockets (so bonus!) and they're really comfortable. They go with everything and I find myself reaching for them 95% of the time. I'm wearing them here and here.

In books:
- The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking. I know hygge is all the rage right now, but rightfully so. This book was a fast read but left me feeling warm and cozy and like I wanted to live in Denmark. It's such a wonderful concept and I loved reading all about how the Danish cherish slowing down and spending time with friends and family in the coziest ways possible. It will definitely make you want to buy a candle and some furry socks.

- Unseen: The Gift of Being Hidden in a World That Loves to Be Noticed by Sara Hagerty. This book is all about God meeting you in places where you feel stuck and unproductive and unnoticed. In a world where people judge you (and you judge yourself) on how much you can do, how much you can produce, and how big of a difference you can make, sometimes God allows you go through seasons of being hidden so He can show you your worth is not in what you do.

- I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart. I listened to this as an audiobook and I have to say, it was the right choice. It's read by Kevin so instead of it sounding like someone just reading from a book, it's like he's telling you the stories how they happened. I listened to this while working overnight shifts at work, and I would find myself just laughing to myself, all alone. So if you plan on listening to this while out in public, be advised you'll probably look like a crazy person laughing to yourself. It's worth it though.

Apps:
- Stash Invest. I wasn't really one to pay attention in economics class in highschool and I really couldn't tell you the first thing about stocks, but I was super intrigued about the Stash app. It lets you invest in different stocks for as little as $5. It breaks everything down into super simple terms and helps you dip your feet in the adult world of the stock market. If nothing else, it helps you set aside a little bit of money each week as a savings and if that particular stock goes up, then yay! I've already made about 10% of my investments. I mean, It's not Warren Buffet numbers but hey, I'm learning.

- Shopkick. Most of you might already know about this one, but if you don't it's an app where you earn "kicks" for walking into store, scanning items, purchasing certain things, etc. and the kicks can be redeemed for giftcards. I've had it for awhile, but I got super into it again this year and got $100 in giftcards (!!). Which really comes in handy when you're waiting in line and think, "wait, I think I have enough kicks for this!" and are able to redeem your giftcard and use immediately. Enter code YAY672469 when signing up and get 250 kicks just for your first walk-in. Take it from a person with a shopping addiction: you need this app. You also need Ebates, but that's a while different thing haha.

- Headspace. This is another popular one that I really enjoyed using this year. It's meditation made easy. Short 10 minutes sessions on anything from anxiety to sleep to anger to creativity and focus. They also have mini 2-3 minute sessions on breathing and refreshing. The more I hear and learn about mindfulness, the more I am convinced it is a necessity in our lives. So for anyone who thinks that they are impossible at sitting still and meditating for any amount of time-- give this app a try.

So those are a few of my favorite things (sang in a Julie Andrews voice) for this year. Hopefully this helped you discovered something new, or maybe a few of these were even on your list. As much as I get super nostaligic around this time of the year and have a hard time with letting things go, I remember of all the new things I'll get to discover and try and learn about in the future and how there is a whole new year approaching to start on a new journey. What are some of your favorite things that I need to know about in the New Year? I'd love to hear about them!

Nothing in this post was sponsored, all opinons are my own. Some links may generate commission.